Below are some frequently asked questions and the relevant answers.
Q: Is there any cost to me?
Q: How will I know if I have been selected for the job?
Q: Can I send now the information I have available, and the rest at a later date? Can I send a partial or incomplete reply?
Q: What is the length of the Contract?
Q: How long will I stay on the job (if selected)?
Q: Will I be paid as an employee or as a contractor?
Q: What is your (V&A) mark-up?
Q: When do you pay?
Q: Am I paid relocation expenses?
Q: Does V & A provide health insurance for contractors?
Q: Will I be contacted by you?
Q: Can you give me more information about this job, a 'rate-range', etc.?
Q: Will I be able to 'negotiate' my rate?
Q: Is there any cost to me?
A: No. Your costs will include travel to and from the Client, parking (if free parking is not provided) and the normal business expenses of your business. Back To Top
Q: How will I know if I have been selected for the job?
A: The Client will screen the resumes for those that meet their requirements in terms of skills and experience. The selected resumes are placed in ascending order starting with the one with the lowest requested rate. Candidates are interviewed in that order. The first candidate that meets the requirements successfully and completes the technical phone interview is hired. We are given one day's notice to schedule the interview with the candidate. If they want to interview you, we will call you immediately (please include all the phone numbers where we may reach you). Back To Top
Q: Can I send now the information I have available, and the rest at a later date? Can I send a partial or incomplete reply?
A: We can only process your application if it is complete, precise and unequivocal. All others are discarded. We are unable to contact you, to request you complete your application. You may consider that your ability to understand our questions and your disposition to respond fully will provide us with an initial impression on your fit for this project and Client. Back To Top
Q: What is the length of the Contract?
A: You are being retained for the duration of the initial project. If there are extensions to same or new projects come along where you and the Client agree to have you help complete, the new termination day will be the completion of those extensions or new projects, as agreed upon by you and Client. You are expected to, and you agree, not to abandon a project midway. You are not expected to work exclusively for our Client, but you will not be able to take on other projects with other clients of yours if they interfere with the dedication, time and effort required for your completion of the project/s you accept to perform for our Client. Back To Top
Q: How long will I stay on the job (if selected)?
A: The minimum term to which you are committed is the number of weeks indicated in the SOW. After that, if there is an extension (this is normally the case, but no promises are made in this regard), you can choose whether or not to stay on longer. At the conclusion of the project you will not be eligible to apply for unemployment compensation, since you are not an Employee of either us or the Client. Back To Top
Q: Will I be paid as an employee or as a contractor?
A: If chosen by our Client, you will provide your professional services to our Client as neither an Independent Contractor, nor an Employee of V&A or the Client. This means that you will be paid on 1099 (not W2) and that you will need to provide for your own benefits and to pay your taxes. Both, we and our Client will pay strictly for hours worked. If the Client makes you formal, written offer to become a fulltime Employee and you are interested in working for them instead of remaining an Independent Contractor, that will be up to you and we will not stand on your way. Back To Top
Q: What is your (V&A) mark-up?
A: 20% is our standard mark-up but this may vary. This is paid by the Client, not you. Back To Top
Q: When do you pay?
A: Payments are made every other Friday, and covers your invoices for work performed during the previous 2 weeks, matching the time sheets that you will provide us showing the days, number of hours worked, your signature and that of the Client. We will direct-deposit into your bank account with Electronic Fund Transfer. Back To Top
Q: Am I paid relocation expenses?
A: No. You are paid strictly by the hour, at the agreed upon rate. No additional payments will be made to you for any concept including 'per diem', etc. Back To Top
Q: Does V & A provide health insurance for contractors?
Yes, you can purchase health insurance from us at a lower price. We have several health insurance plans available. Please ask one of our recruiters to email these plans for your review. Back To Top
Q: Will I be contacted by you?
A: If your credentials and experience substantially meet all the requirements, you provide the information requested, fully and clearly, and your professional fee is in line with the budget for the project, we will call you within minutes of receiving your resume and answers to the questions in the application form. After we screen you, we will submit your resume to the Client who will then make a short list of preselected contractors. Otherwise you will not be contacted. Back To Top
Q: Can you give me more information about this project, a 'rate-range', etc.?
A: At this point you know as much as we do regarding this opportunity. We believe and practice full disclosure; nothing is kept confidential from either you or the Client. There are no 'rate-ranges', only what you consider you can 'live-with', what your experience tells you is reasonable for the market conditions and what you believe is competitive enough to land you this project. As an Independent Contractor you know what your professional fees are. Back To Top
Q: Will I be able to 'negotiate' my rate?
A: No. We consider your rate request as final; we will not try to "negotiate you down" as we respect you as a professional and would not want you to take on a project for less than what you feel comfortable with. The Client does not give us the opportunity to bargain a rate as we are competing with other agencies. Make your rate as attractive as you can. Depending upon how much you need a (new) project, the length of your search, how interested you are in this particular Client, the location and the SOW included, we suggest you establish an aggressive professional rate that secures you a high place on the short list of candidates for this job. Back To Top
